The nature of soil pernicious to Coptotermes formosanus

The Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus, were incubated in soils collected from various locations on the island of Hawaii. More than 70% of the termites died within 2 weeks in seven of nine soil samples collected from Kamuela. In control soil termites remained alive after 4 weeks. Entomophthora coronata, Metarrhizium anisopliae, Aspergillus flavus, and an unidentified bacterium were isolated from 60 to 100% of dead termites incubated in the pernicious soils. E. coronata and M. anisopliae were pathogenic to C. formosanus. The innocuous soil from Hilo became pernicious to C. formosanus after it was inoculated with E. coronata or M. anisopliae.